By VICTORIA A. CARUSO
Merrick residents may no longer have to travel outside the area for a night at the movies, should the Town of Hempstead Board of Zoning Appeals grant a pending application to build a $2.5 million movie theater in Merrick's downtown business district.
Last Wednesday, Merrick-based developer Frank Corva went before the BZA with an application to construct a four-screen, 700-seat movie house at Broadcast Plaza on Fisher Avenue. In his application, Mr. Corva included several conditions requested by community leaders.
A cadre of civic and business leaders attended the morning hearing, including: Julie Marchesella, president of the Merrick Chamber of Commerce; David McDonough, coordinator for the Merrick Revitalization; Derek Donnelly, president of Merrick Gables Association; Michele Walsh, president of the Central Merrick Homeowners Association; Ed Grilli, adviser for the Central Merrick Homeowners Association; Barry Fox, co-president of the Merrick Park Home Owners Association; and Martin Valk, legal counsel for the Merrick Park Home Owners Association.
Many residents said they were concerned about the operating hours of the theater and the movies to be shown there. As a result, Mr. Corva agreed not to run any NC-17- or X-rated films. He also said he would not start any movie after 10:45 P.M.; films aimed at young people ages 16 to 24 would not begin after 10 P.M. He also agreed not to permit live entertainment at the theater. The only exception to the rule would be for charity fund-raisers.
The proposed movie house, which would be constructed at the now-Stone Caterers building, would go up in front of the Merrick Long Island Rail Road station. With hundreds of municipal parking spaces available at the depot, Mr. Corva requested that the BZA waive parking-space requirements for the theater.
Mr. Corva also agreed to stagger movie times so that adequate parking will always be available, as well as to provide movie-goers with information through hand-outs and on-screen notices about where to park locally.
Wayne Edwards, the Merrick-based attorney representing Mr. Corva, said he is confident that the BZA will vote for the theater. "The hearing went very well," said Mr. Edwards. "We reached an agreement with the members of the combined civic associations to impose restrictions and covenants to allow my client to open his business."
Mr. Grilli said, "[Mr. Corva] has met the concerns of the neighbors. He will be a welcomed addition to the community."
The zoning board is expected to decide on the matter in the coming weeks. Construction of the theater will begin immediately if Mr. Corva's application is approved. Completion of the movie house could come as early as the spring of 2001.
